"Creativity is intelligence having fun!"-Albert Einstein

Step up as a Leader!

The more I learn about leadership, the more I am convinced that we need a significant paradigm shift. I believe that the leaders the world needs now are those who know how to host conversations, imagine change, paint, dance, sing, write poetry, love generously, live in right relationship with the earth, build community, imagine new ways of using and honoring our limited resources, teach, and play. I’ve talked with a lot of people who are reluctant to think of themselves as leaders, and that’s largely because they don’t fit the definition of leadership that we’ve become most accustomed to. Because they’re serving the world as artists, healers, gardeners, and community builders rather than only CEOs or government representatives, they assume that leadership has nothing to do with their work. We need these people to lead. We need to be brought back into connection, back to our communities, and back to our connection with the earth. That’s what Lead with Your Wild Heart is all about and that’s what I’d like to invite you into conversation about.

When you wake up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror do you see a leader? I haven’t always looked at myself as one, but the more I learn about leadership the more I realize that we need a real paradigm shift around it. Many of us learn that there is certain mold we feel that we have to fit into to be seen as leader.

I still remember writing a book back when I was only 10 years old. In it I wrote 3 things that I wanted to be when I grow up. I wrote that I wanted to be the President of the United States, an artist, and a veterinarian. My girl friend in Elementary School learned from me that I wrote I wanted to be the President and she said, “You can’t be the President because you’re a girl!”–(Years later she said sorry for this. No hard feelings) But anyway, back then a part of me did believe that boys were better than girls. Now I know better and while I no longer wish to be the President, I still feel that I am a born leader. I believe I can find a way to still lead like a President, create like an artist and show compassion like a vet.

This world needs more than simply politicians and CEOs leading us. The world needs those who know how to lead difficult conversation, gardeners, community builders, healers, inventors, teachers, painters, people rescuing endangered species and so much more. We need these people to lead. We need to be brought back to connection and to step back into our power. So even if you’re working behind the scenes don’t dismiss that. Sometimes that’s where the magic happens. So the next time you look in the mirror, take a good look into your eyes. You may be surprised what you see.

This is another reason that I am passionate about hosting retreats and circles, especially where women can connect. I grew up as the middle child with two brothers. At one point I was just living with my father and brothers so I definitely got used to being around guys. I played street hockey, climbed trees and got into mischief. I always longed for a sister though. As I got older I started to notice I just felt comfortable hanging around guys and noticed I had more male friends than female. Women always seemed to form cliques, be competitive, gossipy and I didn’t care for that. I realized that I was doing myself a disservice though. I just simply had not found the RIGHT women. Women need women. We really do.